360 degree safe Online Safety Mark Assessor Training Courses

The 360 degree safe Online Safety Self Review Tool has been developed by South West Grid for Learning and now has over 13,000 registered schools across the UK. A Scottish version was released in Autumn 2013 and a bi-lingual Welsh version was released in November 2014.

The data available provides a unique picture of the state of online safety provision in schools in the UK and in other parts of the world. In the UK schools that reach the required benchmarks can apply for the Online Safety Mark in recognition of the quality of their Online Safety provision.

Following the successful award of the 360 degree safe Online Safety Mark to schools across the country, applications are invited from suitable candidates who wish to be considered for selection / training as an Online Safety Mark Assessor / Consultant. The process for becoming an Assessor is outlined below:

Stage 1

Submission of an application form is the first stage of this process. On receipt of the form a Lead Assessor will review the application to check if the candidate appears to have the required knowledge and experience (as listed below). Candidates must register for and fully use the online tool (carrying out a review of a school or "dummy school" online).

Stage 2

Candidates who are successful at the first stage will be invited to a one day Assessor training / selection course. On the day candidates must provide sight of an original and current CRB / DBS form and provide a copy of the CRB / DSB for filing by SWGfL. Lead Assessors will provide training and information and will review the competency of the candidates and their suitability to be selected as Registered Assessors (see below).

Stage 3

If successful at the Training Day, the Registered Assessor will be officially recognised and promoted as an official 360 degree safe Consultant. To become an Accredited Assessor they will be required to successfully carry out a moderated first assessment in the presence of a Lead Assessor.

Stage 4

If successful, following the moderated assessment, the Registered Assessor becomes an Accredited Assessor and will be available for appointment to carry out school assessment visits alone.

Appointment Criteria and Application

On application candidates will be expected to show that:

Their professional background and experience qualifies them to work in a position in which they will visit and make judgements on policy and practice in schools.
They have wide experience at a senior level in the field of education / training – preferably in schools or other education establishments.
They have a good understanding of online safety policy and practice and have experience of advising / supporting schools in developing policy and practice / school improvement.
They sign and agree to abide with the Assessors Code of Conduct and that they are in agreement with the structure of Assessor selection and training as described below.

On the Assessor Training Day they will be expected to show that:

They understand the 360 degree safe Self Review Tool and how it might be used to assess the quality of a school’s online safety provision and act as an aid to school improvement. (They must have registered to use the tool and have completed a full or “dummy” school review on the tool at least a week before the course takes place).
They are able to interpret a school’s completed Online Safety Self Review and make judgements as to whether or not the school appears to have reached the benchmark standards required for a school visit to take place.
They are able to interpret and assess the evidence provided at a school visit and make judgements as to whether or not the school appears to have reached the benchmark standards required for the award.
They can be professional in their relationships and communications with schools, SWGfL and other organisations and individuals and that they are able to act as good ambassadors for SWGfL in carrying out this work.
They appear to be able to meet the requirements laid out in the Assessors’ Code of Conduct.

At, and following, their first school visit (when accompanied by a Lead Assessor, for a Moderated Assessment) they will be expected to show that:

They have understood the 360 degree safe Self Review Tool and how it is used.
They have been able (when arranging the visit with the school) to interpret the school’s completed Online Safety Self Review Tool and make judgements as to whether or not the school appeared to have reached the benchmark standards required for a school visit to take place.
They have been able to arrange with the school a suitable agenda for the visit.
They are able to interpret and assess the evidence provided at the school visit and make accurate judgements as to whether or not the school has reached the required standards to receive the award.
Their attitude and communication and they way in which they develop relationships at the school visit is sufficiently professional and meets expectations laid out in the Assessors’ Code of Conduct.
They are able to accurately report to the school their strengths and development points.
In the view of the Lead Assessor they have made an accurate judgement as to whether or not the school should receive the Online Safety Mark.
They complete the Assessment Visit Report Form and return the form to the Administrator within five working days and that, in the view of the Lead Assessor, the form accurately reflects the judgements made and reported to the school on the day of the visit.

Assessor Code of Practice

On the training day, Online Safety Mark Assessors must sign and agree to be bound by the contents of a Code of Practice. This will be included in the application form and in the Assessor Handbook.

Assessor Training Days

To check on course dates and venues please use the contact email address below

We can also arrange local courses for organisations if there is sufficient local demand.

Contact

If you require further information about becoming an Assessor please contact 360safe@swgfl.org.uk